The new NHS National Rehabilitation Centre will deploy technology to help patients to maintain their independence as they recover from life-changing injuries and illnesses and regain quality of life.
Airwave Healthcare has been selected to equip bedrooms at the new centre with 'intelligent bedside terminals' - iPads that will provide much more than the entertainment services that patients would typically enjoy at home.
The NRC will be run and staffed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and is due to open later this year.
The terminals will be integrated into the NRC’s systems, allowing patients to control their own environment – operating room blinds, lighting and heating – which will be important to help patients to maintain their independence as they recover from severe illnesses or injuries – including traumatic brain injuries.
Educational content relevant to each individual’s rehabilitation will be made available through the same device, as will personalised diaries to keep patients informed about their schedule and care activity.
Electronic patient record integration will mean that patients are kept informed as active participants in their rehabilitation – with live access to information on their estimated discharge date, medications, diet, care teams and other important insights relevant to the individual.
Patients will also be able to video call friends and loved ones from accessible devices, and even order meals directly from the same device – all through an enhanced version of a service called MyCareTV, designed to help stimulate patients during their care.
Miriam Duffy, NRC Director, said: "Our innovative approach to rehabilitation at the NRC will be a game-changer both for patients and rehabilitation as a whole. This technology is one of a wide range of measures designed to deliver that step change for patients, helping them to engage in their ongoing rehabilitation 24 hours a day.
"Intelligent bedside terminals will help to promote independence for our patients, many of whom have life-changing injuries. For patients with limited mobility, it will mean they can use the technology in their room to control their environment, without having to ask a member of staff. And for patients who may have impacted memory from brain injuries, it is another means by which we can keep them informed about what is happening in their care."
Airwave Healthcare was chosen following a stringent procurement process, based on factors including cost and extensive experience supporting providers in the NHS.
Dean Moody, healthcare services director at Airwave Healthcare, said: "In any hospital environment, investment in technology that helps to stimulate and engage patients in their care is important to enhance recovery.
"The needs of patients at the National Rehabilitation Centre place this in sharper focus. We will continue to work with healthcare professionals to understand changing needs and innovate to respond throughout this agreement. It is a privilege to support the NRC, a strong example of excellence in rehabilitation transformation, and we are committed to helping staff as they deliver the best for patients."
About the National Rehabilitation Centre
The National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) is a £105 million programme which will create a 70-bed, purpose-built and highly energy efficient new facility as part of the Government’s New Hospital Programme. The specialist NHS facility will be built on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough, home to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre which opened in 2018. The NRC is due to open later in 2025.In addition to providing excellent patient care, the NRC will also be a national hub for innovation, cutting-edge research and development, and training and education. Therefore, the NRC has a national consortium of 24 universities across the country to ensure the NRC remains at the forefront of rehabilitation research and expertise.
About Airwave Healthcare
Airwave Healthcare is working with health and care organisations to help them seize a historic opportunity to modernise patient media systems for the better. Its products and services are free to patients, and fair to health and care providers. Known for its flagship product MyCareTV, the company provides a comprehensive range of patient entertainment systems, audio visual systems, healthcare displays, digital signage, WiFi services, and more. Airwave Healthcare has more than 20 years’ experience working with health and care providers to create solutions that stimulate, educate, entertain and inform the people receiving care, whilst releasing time on wards and in other busy healthcare settings for staff.